Healthy Homes Principle 2 – Keep It Clean

Simple house cleaning can have actions that pay big benefits.

Regular cleaning of the carpets and plain floors with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter will ensure that the dust that goes into the vacuum stays in the vacuum until you empty the canister or remove the bag. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and refers to the ability of the filter out 99.97% of particulates in the air.

Interior windowsills and exterior window troughs in homes built before 1978 could be the locations for lead dust from the opening and closing of the windows over the years. The lead dust is a hazard to everyone, but especially to children under the age of six and pregnant women. If the lead dust is ingested, it can effect children developing motor skills and intellectual development.

An easy way to keep dust and contaminants out of the house is the practice of leaving the shoes at the door, preferably on a mat and switching to indoor only shoes. If there is not enough room at the entrance, it is a good idea to use a doormat at the entrance to clean off your shoes.